It's Not About Nutrition

You know those days where you’ve got nothing planned for dinner, time’s already slipping away, and everyone’s gonna be hungry at exactly the same moment? That’s when I pull out this Hurry Chicken recipe. It’s one of those old-school, sticky-sauced slow cooker meals that takes five minutes to throw together and makes your house smell like you’ve been cooking all day. I don’t even remember where I first saw the recipe — probably scribbled on the back of an envelope from someone at church or clipped from a 90s magazine — but it stuck. Because it works. And because it’s …

This casserole? Oh honey, this one is a crowd-pleaser. I’m talking “bring-the-neighbors-in-from-their-driveways” kind of good. You know how sometimes you just want dinner to feel like a hug? Not something delicate or fussy — just easy, creamy, cheesy goodness that makes the table go quiet because everyone’s too busy eating? That’s exactly what this Doritos Casserole is. It’s a little retro, unapologetically cheesy, and 100% not health food. And honestly? That’s why I love it. It’s the kind of dish you bring to a potluck and leave with an empty dish and five recipe requests. Or what you make on …

You ever wake up on a Sunday and think, “Okay, I want something special, but I don’t want to actually do anything”? That’s this casserole. Right here. It’s sunshine in a pan, made with refrigerated orange rolls and a cozy little custard that bakes into something between cinnamon rolls and French toast. Sweet, soft, a little citrusy, and just messy enough to feel homemade. I started making this on Christmas mornings when the kids were little because I could prep it the night before and just toss it in the oven while coffee brewed and wrapping paper flew. But now? …

You know that dish that always shows up at potlucks, family reunions, or funerals — and you can’t quite tell what’s in it, but you always go back for seconds? That’s this. These Kentucky Crockpot Potatoes are warm, creamy, cheesy, and just the right kind of salty. They’re the kind of potatoes that don’t try to be fancy. They’re not roasted with herbs or shaved into scalloped layers. They’re just honest-to-goodness comfort food — like the kind my Aunt Mary would bring in a big old Crockpot to every church function for 20 years straight. And you know what? Not …

Let me tell you — I didn’t plan on this one being a hit. I was trying to clean out the fridge one afternoon, found some heavy cream I needed to use up, a pack of chicken breasts, and a half-used thing of Cajun seasoning tucked in the back of the spice cabinet. You know the drill — the usual, “What can I throw together that doesn’t involve standing at the stove for an hour?” This dish came out of that moment. It’s creamy, a little spicy, and hearty enough to make everyone at the table happy. It’s also a …

It’s 1995. I’ve got two toddlers in a double stroller, one of ’em sticky from a half-melted lollipop, the other yelling about a Pokémon toy he saw in Sears. I’m exhausted. I’ve got exactly twelve dollars to my name that day and no intention of cooking dinner when I get home. So, where do we end up? The food court. Always. And you know what caught my nose before anything else — that sweet, garlicky, caramelized chicken smell. The guy with the red apron handing out toothpicks like he was Oprah giving away cars. One bite of that sticky, glazy …

A one-pan, cheesy, weeknight lifesaver (that even picky eaters inhale) Okay, real talk. Some nights, I open the fridge, stare into the abyss, and wonder if a bowl of cereal counts as dinner. Again. But then there are nights like this — when I remember I’ve got chicken, some bell peppers hanging on for dear life, and just enough provolone left over from sandwich-making. Boom. We’re in skillet territory. This Chicken Cheesesteak Skillet is one of those recipes that feels like real food, but doesn’t make you sweat for it. Everything gets tossed into one big pan, and what comes …

You know, some nights just call for comfort food. Not fancy, not fussy—just something warm, creamy, and filling that reminds you things are okay. For me, that dish is this Easy Chicken Stroganoff. I’ve made it more times than I can count—especially on those evenings when the house is quiet, the dog’s curled up by the heater, and I just want something to simmer away while I decompress. It’s chicken, it’s mushrooms, it’s noodles—it’s nostalgic without being old-fashioned, if that makes sense. I used to think stroganoff had to be beef. But one night I only had chicken in the …

Let me paint you a little picture: it’s 5:00 PM, the kids are hangry, your partner’s asking what’s for dinner again, and you? You’re just trying to get something on the table that everyone will eat without turning it into a debate club about onions or spice level. Now, traditional lasagna? Whew. Love it. But I don’t always have the time (or frankly, the patience) to babysit layers, boil noodles, and wait an hour and a half for it to bake while my kitchen turns into a sauna. That’s where this sheet pan lasagna comes in. It’s my go-to when …

There are a handful of recipes I keep in my back pocket for when the day’s been a lot — you know the kind. The dog tracked mud through the kitchen, your youngest decided pants were optional at school pickup, and everyone’s hungry but no one knows what they’re hungry for. That’s when this Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini makes its quiet little entrance. I’ve been making this dish for years — long before Pinterest and TikTok were things. It’s not fancy, and that’s exactly the point. It’s creamy. It’s cheesy. It feeds a small crowd. And it uses ingredients I almost …